Embezzlement charge carries $1M bond

Thursday

Oct 3, 2013 at 10:15 PM

A bond of $1 million was set Thursday for Andy James Brown of Kalamazoo, an employee of David F. Locey CPA.

By Corky EmrickTwitter: @CorkyESJ

A bond of $1 million was set Thursday for Andy James Brown of Kalamazoo, an employee of David F. Locey CPA.Brown, 36, of 524 Prosperity Drive in Portage, is charged with one count of embezzlement of $100,000 or more. He also is a suspect in the ongoing murder investigation of David Locey. Brown is being represented by Kalamazoo attorney James Hill. Following the bond hearing, St. Joseph County magistrate Mark Books said bond was set high because of the seriousness of the allegations."I have to consider all the facts," Books said. "He is a suspect in a murder investigation."St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough said that is the bond he requested due to the brutality of circumstances. "Obviously, there is a connection between the two crimes," McDonough said. "We can't ignore public safety."A preliminary conference for Brown is set for 1 p.m. Oct. 15. A preliminary exam is slated for 8:45 a.m. Oct. 17. The charge states that the embezzlement occurred while Brown was employed by David Locey CPA. Authorities were recently made aware of the possible embezzlement.McDonough said an autopsy performed in Grand Rapids Thursday revealed that Locey was shot three times in the head.Locey's body was found by an employee around 8 a.m. Wednesday.Authorities returned to the crime scene Thursday at 67036 M-66 to continue their investigation, while St. Joseph Dive Rescue continued their search. McDonough said officers will finish reports today and develop a plan as the investigation continues next week.

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